The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 2,
2026, for the continuation of Omoyele Sowore’s defence in the alleged
cyberbullying case filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The development followed Monday’s proceedings, during
which Sowore’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, told the court that he
had seen media reports suggesting that the DSS might seek a lengthy adjournment
to allow his client to focus on his campaign for the 2027 presidential
election.
However, DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, expressed
surprise that the defence was relying on media and social media reports in
proceedings before the court.
Kehinde said instructions from his client were
confidential and stated that he had no such instruction to seek a long
adjournment. He informed the court that he was prepared for the continuation of
Sowore’s defence.
The case stems from social media posts made by Sowore
in August 2025 on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook, in which he
described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” and criticised the
President’s statements concerning corruption in Nigeria.
The DSS subsequently approached the court after Sowore
declined requests to remove the posts, with the case raising the question of
whether such statements could constitute cyberbullying under the applicable
law.
There had previously been reports that the DSS could
seek to suspend proceedings until after the 2027 presidential election,
reportedly to enable Sowore to participate fully in the electioneering process.
Those reports, however, were not confirmed in Monday’s proceedings.
Following the exchange between both sides, Justice
Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter until October 2, 2026, for the continuation
of Sowore’s defence.
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